Internship Experience
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- hellojeehae
My first internship was while I was in school. It was a really small firm. I have to say too small cause it was basically 3 design interns, Creative Director and a programmer. It wasn't my dream internship. non-paid. I didn't really learn anything. I had to explain to my Creative Director ... that most logos or even design for that matter have a concept or a reason behind it.
He didn't get it. He actually used a shitty "how to design logo" website tips to design logos. Mostly design without concepts. It was a frustrating experience.
Second one which I am finishing up right now... I really like it. After graduating college with BFA in graphic design, I got few job offers from smaller design firms but declined it as soon as I got this internship. Pay was even better. And it was definitely more focused.
I have a week left.. I am finishing up my internship and hoping to get a job out of it. But I am really not sure and I guess I am regretting it now.
I also realize by stalking people from work on the internet.. that everyone at my work went to graduate school. It worries me that it will be harder for me to enter branding without masters..
What was your internship experience like?
What advice do you have?I know a kid that is interning for his 3rd year at a same firm with no pay... which is crazy to me.
- Mau0
lol Creative Director lol
- kuttyranks0
Is this a suicide note?
- d_rek0
internships should be viewed as steppings stones.
I had several internships while in college and none of them were where I expected to be professionally after I graduated. If anything they simply informed me of exactly what I wanted to avoid when combing the job market. Not that I didn't learn anything from them - quite the contrary.
However, if you truly like the place you work at then why not let them know? Tell them you know your term with them is almost up but you would love to be considered as a full time staff member - or at the very least, be retained as a freelancer.
Otherwise be prepared to move on. It's probably too lucrative for such a small firm to take on interns - the pay is much lower than a full-time/salaried staff member and they can squeeze as much work out of an intern as they need.
And just because they went to graduate school doesn't necessarily mean anything other than... they went to graduate school. All it does it grant them perhaps some padder for their folios and a few additional lines on a resume.
And besides, you have to start somewhere. Having a BFA with a few years professional experience is better than having a masters with no experience IMO.
- "And just because they went to graduate school doesn't necessarily mean anything other than... they went to graduate school."dMullins
- hellojeehae0
I guess my chances are pretty low if they have 4 freelancers and two interns at my work currently.....? and almost all the freelancers have masters and plenty of experience.. compared to myself.
- d_rek0
Well you could either doubt yourself through the floor or at least have the balls to try.
If it doesn't work out then fuck 'em, at least you tried. Like I said, move on to what's over the horizon.
- digdre0
it's cool over here, i do intern at the biggest printer around. we are 3 graphic designers. I get some design tasks here and there.
sometimes i have to vectorize logos of companies who sent their logo in 200*200 in 72 dpi and want it printed on A3 .. kinda sad.. but hey, it's cool for now. better as making coffee and the collegues are nice chaps. one is even a teacher at my school.
- hellojeehae0
do you get any printing discounts?
- no idea, maybe i can get my stuff for free since i don't get paid for itdigdre
- Countryman0
in design, I am not sure how important grad school is. Its not like science where you need to go to gradschool or be a peon for the rest of your life. It really has more to do with your portfolio, and maybe the school you went to. Those people working there are probably full fledged designers. Right you as an intern your going to be looking for a junior design position. This is still a pretty low paying position & a lot of firms are looking for junior designers just as they are looking for interns.
I would say just give it a shot and ask them if they will consider you to be a junior designer??
- Milan0
"I know a kid that is interning for his 3rd year at a same firm with no pay... which is crazy to me. "
HAHAHAHAHA what a loser! Some people are so gullible. I would never work for free.
- hellojeehae0
i am so sick of internships.. this is my second one.
- honest0
I remember that long lost summer when a bunch of us in university met up for beers after a week's work experience. We told each other how we'd been busting our asses on what we'd been doing and when it came to Neil's turn, he just smiled and said he'd gotten a blowjob off the reception desk a few minutes ago and that her name was Tuesday.